PS 3531 
.fl385 
S6 

,1913 
Copy 1 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN 
IN BOHEMIA 




THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN 
IN BOHEMIA 

BY 
KATE B. PALMER 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 

SAN FRANCISCO 

1913 



7^ 3iSl 



E^St^ 



Copyright, 1913 
by A. M. Robertson 



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Philopolis Press 
San F'rancisco 



©C',A362C25 



FOREST SCENE. SCENE I. 

Curtain disclosing forest in purple twilight. 
Introducing music, — Ug motif. 

Enter Forest Voice; — 

Robed in green gauzy drapes veiled by wood- 
colored chiffon variegated, a light green 
chiffon drape falling from head over shoulders, 
held on head by wreath of redwood sprays; 
hair flowing, white sandalled feet, an owl in 
her left hand. Throughout the short play she 
does the reciting which introduces the acts. 

Forest Voice. 
The great trees listen for the song 

Of wondrous themes, 
When stars and twilight weave repose 

And Nature dreams; 
No chirp of bird among their boughs 

Cathedral spires; 
Descending rose-shafts wreathe the hour 
When day expires. 

Forest Voice remains on stage through the 

play. 
Music in variations of Ug, suited to forest. 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

Forest Voice. 

Oft comes the sensuous wooing of a wind 

Athrill the forest wakens to its kiss, 
Impassioned, strains its branches to embrace 

The wanton leaves it in expectant bliss. 
Wind music, — ^Ug motif. 

Forest Voice. 

Sweet as the summer fragrance of a rose, 

Young Night descends, her dark form lightly clad, 
A jewelled crescent on her peerless brow 
A senseful languor in her movements glad. 

Music of Ug, one bar, then music introducing 

Night, who dances the dance of Night. 
Night is garbed in short black skirt, very full 
above ankles, of accordion-pleated chiffon, 
draped with jewelled black veil, a crescent on 
her forehead, a single star on back of each 
wrist to which another veil is attached, black 
sandals. 
After her dance, she retires to back of stage, 

taking a graceful, easy position. 
Soft music accompanying Forest Voice 
through each of her stanzas.' 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

Forest Voice. 

Forgot the moan and passion of the wind, 

E'en as the pain that living things must know, 
Full starved for sleep, the wood-clan yield their all 
Of dew-pressed fragrance, 'neath her feet of snow. 
Violin introducing Nightingale. Nightin- 
gale dance. 
Dancer in soft shades of violet chiffon, draped 
on arms to suggest wings. Nightingale 
goes back, making a picture with Night. 

End of First Part. 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

PART II. SCENE II. 

Musical Introduction. 
Few bars. 

Forest Voice. 
The spires in moonlit glory upwards point, 

Eternal Vigilants thro' centuries past; 
Each day they wait the coming of their queen, 

Then yield her sadly at King Phoebus' blast. 

Oft a sweet vision, reared among the gods 

Comes woman-like, in spite of warnings given. 
Longing to know the mysteries of earth, 

Material things that had no source in Heaven. 
Enter Spirit of Woman. Sinking in com- 
manding, masterful style. 

Spirit of Woman. 
Thou Ug, gra^ven image of fear. 

Back, back to the Shades, disappear! 
Thou Bacchus, with hoofed, shaggy crew. 

Go forth through the trees, starred with dew! 
Silenus, with spice of thy drink 

Woo dryads to Lethean brink; 
Ho, Zephyr, lead on as they trip. 
In cool, pearly fountains to sip! 

She has chared the j or est of its wmU occupants. 
Interlude of a measiire, then in softer mood 
continues: 

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THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

Alone in the forest am I 

Above me the hooting owls cry; 
I came on the edge of a cloud, 

The gods in deep sorrow were bowed; 
They swore that Bohemia must weep, 

If I, in this forest, should sleep. 

Two bars of music. Style changing to more 
reckless mood. 
Brave Spirit of Woman, — I laugh 

At their fears and their oaths, — foolish chaff! 
Mayhap in this grove, old forsooth. 

Mother Eve strayed with Adam in youth: 
In reckless defiance of law 

I stand in this temple — no awe 
Of man or his high-priests I feel. 

But soft to their senses would steal 
And woo them to welcome my mood 

As comrade in this sheltered wood. 
This mankind, who fear, yet do love, 

And claim this Olympian grove 
Have left their grey fire-embers low; 

I'll stir them to cardinal glow; — {Stirs fire) 
And to yon banked verdure will creep 

In soft, perfumed silence, to sleep, 
Revealing in dreams woman's right. 

To spellbound Bohemia to-night. 

Curtain as she reclines on hank. Soft music. 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

SCENE III. 

Forest Voice. 

Fair, quiet spirits dwelt within these woods, 

Their cloud- veil lifted and they soared above, 
Their mem'ries in the Forest Wind is borne. 
These sleepers of the early forest love. 

Enter Wind of the Forest, or Forest Wind. 
Interlude of Storm music. 
Sings "Song of Sleeper s^^ written for her by 
John Vance Cheney. 

Forest Voice. 

When storms rage wild and shattered monarch falls. 
And thick-robed branches hide Heaven's angry eye, 
With heart-beats hushed and timid falt'ring step. 
We mourn the wrath that chastened, — My Heart 
and I. 

Forest Wind sings "My Heart and /" written 
also by John Vance Cheney. Costume, 
old rose chiffon, lighter shade of veil, sandals, 
hair fl^owing, old rose veil caught on head, 
floating to hem of gown, golden lyre. Music 
accompaniment to Forest Voice, more 
stirring. 



8* 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 



SCENE IV. 

Forest Voice. 

Oft Cometh strange wild creatures to our shades, 

They fill the sylvan calm with ribald sound, 
They chant till blush the virgin sward to hear, 
And in mad revel toss their limbs around. 

Music changes to lively as women from all parts 

of world enter. 
Bars of Russian Bride dance. 

Russia, in gorgeous costume dances — goes to rear. 
Spain enters in Spanish costumx with guitar and sings 

Spanish song; goes to rear. 
African, in gorgeous cake-walk gown enters and sings 

coon song; goes to rear. 
Scotland enters in full Scotch costume^ sings; goes to 

rear. 
Suffragette enters, man's silk hat, tuxedo evening 

shirt and black cloth skirt, carrying a banner, 

^' Votes for Woman' \ does a turn on stage; goes to 

rear. 
America in costume of red, white and blue spangled 

chijfon enters and does two measures of Yankee 

Doodle dance. 
Indian maid in Indian costume with bow and arrow 

does Indian dance then goes to wings and brings in 

Egypt. 

9 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

Egypt in heavy beaded net gown all bejewelled and 
crowned does a Veil dance. 

They form a tableau in rear of stage, where 
Spirit of Woman lies asleep on bank. 
Enter Modern Woman, dragging by hand a 
Forest Youth, apparently shy, but very 
handsome. Woman gowned like Nell Brinck- 
ley, muchly bejewelled, blonde head, mass of 
curls and puffs. Gown of white chiffon, em- 
broidered in light blue, very decollete, one red 
rose at corsage, very high-heeled red slippers, 
slit skirt, revealing diamond anklet over 
slipper. Youth in Robin Hood style of 
garment. 

Modern Woman sings in very frightened, ap- 
pealing manner, still holding youth by hand: 

Modern Woman. 

When the woodland sleeps and the star-bells rmg, 

Thou Ug, keep a watch over me ! 
For the moonbeams lure till the pulses sing, 

O Ug, keep a watch over me ! 
The dove of peace in my woman soul 

Is fretting to find a newer goal. 
We seek for change as the seasons roll, 

O Ug, keep a watch over me! 

I found this Youth in the glade alone, 
O Ug, keep a watch over me! 

icr 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

And his tender heart-sigh stirred my own, 

Thou Ug, keep a watch over me! 
He is that creature called a man 

Whom at a distance we should scan, 
On close acquaintance there's a ban — 
O Ug, keep a watch over me. 

Youth, seeing so many women^ makes love to 
each, hut is particularly attentive to charming 
America. Seeing this Modern Woman 
sings next verse: 

Modern Woman. 
Ye Gods, now the mischief has begun, 

O Ug, keep a watch over me! 
That heart-sigh stunt he is winning on, 

Ihou Ug, keep a watch over me! 
What madness now dares the creature do? 

He is going the round of the woman world thro' 
And it's Ug, Ug, Ug, you're a ''Bunny" too. 
But you needn't keep watch over me. 

Stately song leads up to syncopated time in 
Chorus J ivhich Modern Woman sings first 
time alone, and second with entire cast. 

Modern Wod^ian (and Chorus) 
For the rag goes on till the stars grow cold. 

And they'll ''Texas Tom" till the v/orld grows old, 
:\nd tango — tango, oh, the joy of it! 

Syncopatic, non-aesthetic, just you toy with it. 

II 



1 xl 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

Heaven-wise, roll your eyes, 

Sway and swing, mesmerize: 
Redwood trees, in the arms of the breeze 
Do the Bohemian Rag. 

{Repeat whole Company.) 
Siidden appearance of Cloud Maiden, in 
robes of blue and white, with swan's-down 
trimming and sandalled feet, who stands 
before the revelers and slowly raises her arms, 
with flashing eyes and sublime dignity, say- 
ing no word. The actors slowly and in awe 
steal away. Cloud Maiden approaches 
Spirit of Woman on bank, and arouses her. 
She speaks no word. Spirit of Woman, 
awakening in surprise, allows herself to be 
raised from bank by Cloud Maiden. Com- 
ing to the front, hand in hand, Spirit of 
Woman sings: 

Spirit of Woman. 

Alas, what grief is tugging at my heart! 

'Twas but a dream, yet fain would I depart 
To woman's sphere, unsulHed let me rise, 

There men are gods, and love is paradise. 
This woman-world, created in my sleep 

Far in forgetfulness I'll bury deep; 
Methinks the gods were wise; this grove 

For man was dedicated. 

12 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

Thither cloud-nymph, ere the moon 
Hides her gentle face from sight; 
Back where virtue, love and faith 

Form the plan of woman's right. 
Lead me, Nature's ever unchanged plan — 
Woman's noblest altar in the chastened 
heart of man. 
Exit Spirit of Woman, and Cloud Maiden. 
Curtain. 



13 



THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA 

SCENE V. 

Back again to original musical accompaniment 
of Forest Voice. Forest Voice coming 
to front of stage for first time. 

Forest Voice. 

Bohemia, sleep ! Thy armored knights attend. 

The red deer slumbers in thy shelter cool, 
Thy sons have hied them to the marts of trade, 

Like lagging urchins, driven forth to school. 
When purple grapes have crowned the Autumn's 
course. 

To yield in turn to holly's crimson charm, 
And Spring next drops the daffodil to gleam 

'Mid golden poppy in the new year's charm — 
Once more a Summer browns the velvet hills. 

The meadow-lark, — your herald — bids you come; 
No lagging step — one purpose — one accord, 

You seek again Bohemia, — idyll home; 
Where Art and Nature fill the soul's demand. 

And heart goes forth to heart at touch of hand; 
No care nor fear to mar each precious hour. 

Viva Bohemia! In thy matchless dower. 

Curtain, 

Finis. 



A PLAYLET WRITTEN AND STAGED BY 
KATE B. PALMER AT A DINNER GIVEN 
AT THEIR HOME BY HER HUSBAND TO 
SOME OF HIS BOHEMIAN FRIENDS ON 
THE ELEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN 



DEC 13 1913 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

■HL 

018 348 701 2 ♦ 



